Maggart to Face Webb in First Round of NCAA's

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Mary Beth Maggart, a junior on the
Purdue women's tennis team, will play Duke's Vanessa Webb in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship tournament hosted by Stanford. The tournament begins with first round matches tomorrow (May 19) and will conclude with the championship match on May 23. Maggart is competing for the individual championship.

Maggart was Purdue's No. 1 singles player this season, compiling a 12-9 spring record. However, the junior standout posted a 16-5 record in the fall season in highly competitive national tournaments, comparable to the NCAA's. In the latest ITA/Rolex Collegiate Tennis Rankings, Maggart was listed as 48th.

Her opponent, Vanessa Webb, should provide a tremendous challenge. The Blue Devil was 10th in the latest poll, while her team was fourth.

Maggart has proven in the past that she can beat highly ranked opponents. At the ITA All-American Qualifying Tournament held in October of 1996, the Boilermakers defeated William & Mary's Lauren Nikolaus, then ranked sixth in the nation, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Nikolaus is currently ranked eighth

The winner of the Maggart-Webb match will face the winner of the Yvonne Doyle (San Diego) - Gayleen McManus (Boise State) match. The NCAA Women's Tennis Championship is a single-elimination tournament.